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Andy Madsen's Reviews > Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe
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It's really sad that people judge books from the 17th century from their 21st century politically-correct perspective. You don't have to agree with Defoe's worldview and religious beliefs to like the book. I'm repulsed by Homer's beliefs but I know his works deserve to be classics.
People who think this book is boring probably think hikes through majestic mountains or quiet afternoons in a beautiful garden are boring. This book is slow at times. But the slowest parts are the best. Defoe is a master of detail. And the action is much more exciting when it comes after the calm. A book with only action would be boring to me (not to mention corny, e.g. Treasure Island).
This is, hands down, my favorite novel of all time. Rich detail, gripping plot, profound character development, insightful meditations, and the meeting of two radically different worlds in Robinson and the cannibals. I never stop reading this book. When I finish I start again. I love Robinson and Friday as if they were a real life father and brother.
BTW - There is an audio recording by Ron Keith that is spectacular. The publisher is Recorded Books.
People who think this book is boring probably think hikes through majestic mountains or quiet afternoons in a beautiful garden are boring. This book is slow at times. But the slowest parts are the best. Defoe is a master of detail. And the action is much more exciting when it comes after the calm. A book with only action would be boring to me (not to mention corny, e.g. Treasure Island).
This is, hands down, my favorite novel of all time. Rich detail, gripping plot, profound character development, insightful meditations, and the meeting of two radically different worlds in Robinson and the cannibals. I never stop reading this book. When I finish I start again. I love Robinson and Friday as if they were a real life father and brother.
BTW - There is an audio recording by Ron Keith that is spectacular. The publisher is Recorded Books.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
January 1, 2002
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Finished Reading
January 27, 2009
– Shelved
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Kenzi
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Jan 19, 2014 02:09PM
Are you suggesting that the author's ignorance (due to the time period he's from) elevates his book above criticism of its flaws--such as racism? How is it “sad” that modern-day people have a problem with racism (among other things) in this story? Don't make excuses for bad behavior.
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Estoy de acuerdo/Im agree, youre right
Never judge historical figures or works of art by modern standards. Seek out the universality, but understand that times change. Good comments on Defoe.
I couldn't have said it better myself. Great review!
I can't stop rereading it.
I found this quite a tedious read and I certainly don't find walks through majestic mountains, or quiet afternoons in a beautiful garden boring. Those are two things that give me huge pleasure in life.
I found this book really boring and it has nothing to do with the period. I like "The Iliad" and love "Don Quixote" or "El Lazarillo de Tormes" or "La Princèse de Clèves". So really, just because it's a classic, it doesn't mean there are no better characters or more enjoyable books even by 17th c. standards.
Thank you for this review, you summed up the way I have felt about this work perfectly!
I agree with you. It is a great book and people need to understand it by what it is. Hugely under apreciated. Great review.
I read this book at the age of 13 and frankly loved it. I tried finding other books to do with being stuck on an island and surviving with what there is but I have to say Robinson Crusoe trumps all of them. I do understand that there are many people who are looking at this book and reading it through a 21st Century perspective, however to read any book with a closed mind precisely defies the point of a book! In order to refrain from angering anyone or going on too much I'll put it short, read the book with an open mind and you'll see why it is easily one of my favourite books.
I agree completely... it would take an extraordinarily perceptive man to stand against the social customs of his age. Who is to say in future our descendants will look at us and ask how could they drive or fly knowing they were poisoning the planet? How could they buy cheap clothes from sweat shops in the far East knowing how they were made? It's very easy to criticise, not so easy to make your own judgement.
^ What Jen said.I try to read historic works in context, though it's tough. However the best reviews of books and movies that, outside of context, are alarmingly politically incorrect, are the truly funny one's where the humor is understood as satirical. There's one for Robinson Crusoe here that fits that description. Sometimes, it IS possible to cut it both ways.
I believe it to be quite arrogant to presume that if someone didn't like the book, it's probably because they didn't read it right. I personally hated the book. Not because if was obviously racist for today's society, but because the narrator was just incredibly annoying. His character, his persona, lacked originality and personality. Even for his times. Wether it was written to mirror a bigot society or not, it is boring to read about it at such an extent. It's interesting at times, but I felt some parts were way to stressed. They go on and on and on. I just kept repeating to myself 'Okay, I GOT IT'. Obviously, this is just my opinion. But I don't label who liked the book as being someone who is probably as boring as Robinson. Far from it. We all just have a different way of looking at things.
My favorite books are the classics, and my spare time is filled with gardening and camping. Yet, I have to agree with others that this book was in fact lacking in something, if not boring.
This is the most nonsensical review. The book is an 18th century novel. Defoe is not Crusoe, their beliefs are not the same. Beyond listing his items, there's actually very little detailed description in this novel. Crusoe subjugates Friday, there is not father/brother relationship. Yikes!
Thank you. It is my inspiration. Whenever I think of dying myself I think that there are so many problems in life still God has made me alive
Great review! My thoughts exactly!
Well said Andy.
Very articulately written, Andy. Absolutely agree. And well said, Jenn!
Why is it that the chicks get so butthurt for this review
It's literally an underrated book, it's my opinion.
Thank you, Andy, for your well written review. I share your sentiments about Robinson Crusoe and Daniel Defoe.
Really great to see that someone else feels the same way about this book as I do. I do definitely agree that it is unfair that people don’t like this book because it isn’t really politically correct. They can’t seem to understand that these were very different times and things were seen differently then.
hi wut hapes wen u get scared half 2 death twice ?
lol;)
what are you guys talking about
Don´t be so irritable what other says about books, even if it´s your favourite one. We all have our own opinition about books and sometimes they like it or not like it, you can´t say what other should think or should like.
Mark Smith's LibriVox audio version is also very good.
I just finished and loved it. I was so surprised at the “insightful meditations”! I had no idea the book included such philosophical lessons. I read this right after finishing The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (pub. 1868) because there is a character in Collins’s book that lives by the teachings he finds in Robinson Crusoe! Now that I’ve read RC, I see why he referred to it for guidance. Great read!
Why use space rambling on about other opinions, rather than just telling us about the book? It is not at all relevant what you feel about how others received this book, or how people feel about "majestic mountains" and "quiet afternoons".
Classics are classics because they stood the test of time. A book can, at any instant, fail that same test of time.
Ishi, I love your insightful comment!
Character development? Where? Insightful meditations? Where? Nothing "insightful" here was original and Crusoe really doesn't do anything to grow as a person except pretend he's a better Christian
Kenzi Bird did you not read the review? Did you really read the book?One needn't agree with the actions or beliefs of the characters in a novel. If you read a murder mystery does that mean you think murder is good? When I read a book about slavery it doesn't make me want to have slaves or think that is acceptable. It actually portrays further how disgusting it is.
The whole point of a novel is to tell a story and let the reader take from it what is good or bad.
Daniel Defoe was a brilliant story teller.
Thank you for your review. I love the book. I agree with you on the fact that people moan and whine about political correctness and books that are over tuner 50 years old. And then they moan and wine when you post about it, saying that you shouldn’t have an opinion on their opinions. Liberals are bananas.
I was actually positively surprised how kindly Robinson thought of the "wild" people - he judged their behaviour but also understood that they lived by a different moral code than himself and hence couldn't be their judge. As regarding to his conversion of Friday let's face it - if any of us would be stuck on an island with a person whose world views would be from the 17th century we would definitely try to enlighten them of our beliefs too (be it about racism or any other "modern ideals"). Enjoyable story in my mind!
All these sentiments that the book is "problematic" when I have to agree completely with Irtaimisto's thoughts, it's shockingly tame in all the areas I'm supposed to be "offended"
You’re spot on. I wonder what our world will look like if we shine great books like this one
Great review - well articulated.
100 percent agree. While it made me cringe sometimes, being able to step back in time and read Dafoe's worldview was illuminating.
Back in the days when I taught 18th century literature, I marvelled at how modern Defoe was. Most of the great writers, like Swift and Pope, would have found us uncouth and barbarous. But Defoe would have every conceivable tool you can get at Ace Hardware and his own channel on You-tube and thousands of followers on Instagram.
the fact i dont agree with his worldview does not at all change how he's a self-righteous nuthead and ever since he got stuck on the island has had no bit of personality except for being a haughty Mary Sue
